Description:

Benjamin F. Isherwood
Pensacola, FL, July 22, 1846
Benjamin F. Isherwood ALS with Fantastic Mexican War Content & Hand-drawn Naval Battle Diagram
ALS
An autograph letter signed with incredible Mexican War content and a hand-drawn map of a naval engagement. 4pp of a bifolium, measuring 7.75" x 9.75", Pensacola, dated July 22, 1846. A handwritten letter from Benjamin Franklin Isherwood, signed "B.F. Isherwood", addressed to his mother. Written aboard the U.S. Man of War steamship Princeton, the letter describes recent skirmishes with the opposing Mexican force. On the third page, taking up approximately half the page, is a diagram of the naval assault of Vera Cruz with placement of his ship the "Princeton" as well as the "Cumberland". "Perry", and "Potomac", and their proximity to the Mexicans and their movements. The letter has flattened mail folds with uneven toning. Occasional brushing and light bleeding of ink in text. Spots of foxing. Very good overall.

In part:
"... We arrived yesterday for provisions and coal, and are busily engaged taking them in...then we are to return to Vera Cruz to blockade again... We had a little skirmish with the Mexicans. We had gone about 16 miles north of Vera Cruz on the coast to water our ships at a river called Antique River. Our boats were fired upon by a party from the bushes, we saw about 20 men at different times of the enemy. Our boats returned the fire & the Princeton's 'big gun' opened upon the bushes with shell shot and we soon heard no more of the enemy. The next day the same thing was repeated but the enemy kept at a great distance & our boats crew did not leave the beach. We kept firing shells into the bushes at random but probably hurt no one...we heard a rumor of their losing 2 men killed & several wounded. On our side one man received a spent musket ball in his shoulder while in the boat... We had no means of estimating the Mexican force, though we heard it rumored at everything. from 200 to 1200. The Princeton was anchored with springs on her cables within 1 miles of the beach. Steam was kept up all the time…"

Benjamin Franklin Isherwood (1822-1915) joined the U.S. Navy in 1844, at the age of 22. He saw action during the Mexican War and was appointed Engineer-in-Chief of the United States Navy in 1861. The following year, he became the first Chief of the Bureau of Steam engineering, a post he held for eight years. When the Civil War began the Navy had 28 steam vessels and during the war the number grew to 600. The design and construction of the machinery necessary to accomplish this was overseen by Isherwood. His designs for ships that were fast enough to pursue the blockade runners were used by the Union Navy to great success. In 1863 and 1865 he published the first and second volumes of "Experimental Researches in Steam Engineering" which were later translated into six languages and became a standard engineering text future steam experimentation was based.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 7.75" x 9.75"
  • Medium: ALS

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